Sports stars promote AAPI youth health and fitness

Professional trainer Jillian michaels joins President’s advisory Commission member Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu, both of the NFL’s Pittsburgh’s steelers, and marcus mcNeill of the NFL’s san Diego Chargers, promote healthy living at UCLa with the White House Initiative on asian americans and Pacific Islanders as part of the First Lady’s Let’s move Campaign. Contributed photo by ayesha Walker)

LOS ANGELES (April 2, 2011) – Hundreds of youth joined Hines Ward, member of the President’s Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and receiver for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers, along with fellow NFL players Troy Polamalu, safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Marcus McNeill, offensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers, to stress the importance of physical exercise and nutritious meals at a health and fitness fair Saturday at the University of California, Los Angeles’s intramural field.

The event sponsored by The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders addressed the soaring obesity and diabetes rates among high school youth, particularly within Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities and in the nation’s Pacific region. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander children have the highest rates of any minority group for being overweight or obese and hold an elevated risk for developing cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Sefa Aina, vice chair of the President’s Advisory Commission, spoke of how native food once grown and eaten by Polynesians have since been replaced on the Pacific Islands by imported products. A reliance on cheap, fast food in the continental United States also has contributed to unhealthy eating.

“One in five NHPI high school youth are obese, and one in three are likely to be overweight or obese,” Aina said. “Today we’re sending a message that physical fitness and eating properly will lead to healthier living.”

He added that message must also come from parents, schools, community leaders and elected officials in order to be effective.

Health and wellness expert Jillian Michaels led a fitness demonstration at the event and stated, “America’s obesity epidemic has reached catastrophic proportions, especially when it comes to our youth. I’m honored to participate in a program that shares my commitment to eradicating this problem and I am grateful for events like these as we continue this important fight.”

Commissioner Hines Ward said that, as a professional athlete, he always wants to achieve his best for his teammates every time he steps onto the field. He emphasized that diet and exercise are a critical part of his regimen.

“Balancing a healthy diet with exercise is critical if you want to perform at your best. And teaching your kids this balance at an early age is the key to developing a healthy lifestyle,” he said. “In this age of video games, kids today don’t get much physical exercise and we, as parents, need to change that.”

For more information about the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, visit www.whitehouse.gov/aapi for more information.